In no time at all.

Zhao Tieshan gathered everyone involved in the escort mission in the main hall.

As usual, he inquired about the details of the journey.

Afterward, Zhao Tieshan took out a bag of silver.

The employer provided fifty taels.

According to the rules, the escort agency keeps half, and the rest is divided among those who went on the mission.

Each of the six people received four taels, with double for those injured.

Old Sun received eight taels, Chen Qingyi four taels, Little He four taels.

When it was Jiang Chi's turn, Old Sun's face darkened.

"He's a useless one, and he gets four taels too?"

Previously, they hadn't planned to give Jiang Chi four taels, just a little extra to help him out.

Unexpectedly, they encountered mountain bandits this time.

After hearing the story, it was clear that if Jiang Chi hadn't driven the carriage to draw the bandits away, the consequences wouldn't have been just Old Sun's injured leg.

Zhao Tieshan ignored Old Sun and simply stuffed the silver into Jiang Chi's hand.

Jiang Chi was a bit surprised.

"This..."

Zhao Tieshan was firm.

"Take it!"

Jiang Chi didn't refuse further.

Old Sun snorted coldly.

"If it weren't for my brother Wen Tailai, would you have come back alive? And look at him, not a scratch, yet he gets money."

Chen Qingyi sipped her tea, not even lifting her head.

"Wen Tailai is your brother, call him out, and I'll thank him in person."

Old Sun opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.

Zhao Tieshan waved his hand, "Alright. Everyone, disperse."

Jiang Chi walked out of the hall with four taels of silver.

In his heart, he thought, "Wen Tailai... I'll remember that name."

Evening.

The escort agency closed its doors.

Jiang Chi didn't go home immediately but needed to buy some brown rice from the rice shop.

On his way back, he passed an alley and saw two people squatting in the corner, speaking in low voices.

Their attire didn't look like city folks, and their clothes were still muddy.

Jiang Chi's ears twitched.

The Deer Form of the Five-Animal Transformation Art not only made his movements light and agile but also enhanced his hearing beyond that of ordinary people. Though the two were far, Jiang Chi could hear every word if he wanted to.

"...Ten dead... The chieftain is furious!!!"

"...Have they found out who did it?"

"Not yet. This incident involved the Iron Mountain Escort Agency. We need to figure out their background first."

Jiang Chi didn't stop and continued walking.

It seemed Flying Cloud Stronghold wouldn't let this go easily, and the escort agency might be in trouble.

Jiang Chi returned home and pushed open the door.

Su Qianxue was cooking at the stove. Hearing the noise, she joyfully ran out of the kitchen to greet Jiang Chi.

"Brother Chi, you're back?"

"Yeah."

Jiang Chi put down the rice and then took out a delicate carved hairpin from his pocket, gently placing it in Su Qianxue's hair.

Su Qianxue's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and slight reproach.

"Why did you spend money on me again?! I don't need it!"

Jiang Chi smiled slightly.

"Why wouldn't you want it? When we have more money, I'll buy you gold hairpins and step-shaking ornaments."

Su Qianxue was deeply moved, holding the hairpin in her hands and pressing it to her chest.

No one had ever thought of her like this since she was a child.

At that moment, Jiang Chi reached into his pocket again.

Three taels of silver and some copper coins.

"This time, Uncle Zhao gave me four taels for the escort mission. After buying rice and the hairpin, this is what's left."

Su Qianxue's eyes lit up at the sight of the silver.

"So much money!"

She calculated in her mind how many days and nights of embroidery it would take to earn that much.

But then a hint of worry appeared on her face.

It also showed how dangerous the escort mission was to earn so much silver.

Su Qianxue looked up at Jiang Chi.

"Brother Chi, I don't need gold hairpins or fine silks. I just want you to be safe."

"If Uncle Zhao asks you to go on another mission, just refuse. My embroidery doesn't earn much, but it's enough for us. I don't want you to be in danger."

Jiang Chi felt warmth in his heart at Su Qianxue's words and said nothing more.

He then changed the topic.

"What delicious food are we having today?"

"Steamed egg custard!"

After dinner and washing up, the two went to bed early.

Jiang Chi's current mindset was:

Not practicing for a day, the body won't relax.

Late at night.

The night fairy Su Qianxue fell into a deep sleep, exhausted.

Just as Jiang Chi was about to sleep.

Suddenly, his ears twitched.

Deer Form—Alert.

Someone?!

Not in his house, but outside the alley of the escort agency.

The footsteps were light, but they couldn't escape him.

Jiang Chi got up quietly, left the courtyard, and followed along the wall.

At the end of the alley, a black-clothed person squatted in the corner, peering towards the escort agency.

Jiang Chi hid in the shadows ten meters behind him.

The black-clothed person didn't notice him.

After a while, another figure sneaked over from another alley.

"Have you figured it out?"

"Iron Mountain Escort Agency, thirteen escorts, none stay overnight, just a useless gatekeeper. That gatekeeper is the useless young master expelled from the Jiang Family."

"What about the expert?"

"Couldn't find out, but definitely not from the escort agency, probably just passing by."

"The chieftain said, no matter who it is, this must be avenged. First, figure out their background, then find a time to burn it down."

"Alright. I'll report back first."

The two separated, disappearing into the night.

Jiang Chi didn't chase the one leaving; he focused on the one watching the escort agency.

This person was a scout, staying to keep watch.

The scout found a hidden spot, squatted down, and took a bite of dry food.

Jiang Chi circled behind him.

Deer Form—Silent Step.

The scout sensed something was wrong and turned his head sharply.

A fist already smashed into his face.

Bear Form—Pouncing Kill.

"Bang—"

A dull thud.

The scout's face caved in, his eyes popped out.

His body went limp instantly.

A clean, swift kill with one punch.

Jiang Chi crouched down, searched him.

Two taels of broken silver, a dagger, a token from Flying Cloud Stronghold.

He pocketed the silver and kept the token.

A scout from Flying Cloud Stronghold.

Killing him would only bring a second, a third.

He needed to make them change targets.

Jiang Chi felt his pocket, took out the jade pendant he got from Qian Gui.

Qian Gui's jade pendant wasn't ordinary, easy to trace.

He stuffed the jade pendant into the scout's hand, wiped the blood off the dagger, and put it back in the scout's hand.

It looked like the scout had a conflict with someone from the Jiang Family.

Jiang Chi stood up, stepped back, and looked.

The body lay there, face destroyed, with a Jiang Family jade pendant in its pocket.

That should do it.

He turned and didn't go home immediately.

Instead, he went to a place where Jiang Family Martial Academy apprentices lived.

Using the same method.

Killed, searched, planted the Flying Cloud Stronghold token.

A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.

The next day.

The body was discovered early in the morning.

Someone found the body in the alley.

"Murder—!"

The news spread quickly.

Someone recognized the jade pendant.

"This is a Jiang Family jade pendant! The steward's!"

"Did the Jiang Family kill someone?"

"Don't know... but this is Jiang Family's..."

The news reached Flying Cloud Stronghold.

The chieftain, Hu Tianba, was furious.

"Jiang Family?"

"The scout had a Jiang Family steward's jade pendant. He's the brother-in-law of Jiang Family Patriarch Jiang Wanling. Though not a direct hit, the force and technique were similar."

Hu Tianba smashed the table with a palm.

"Jiang Wanling—!"